Safety fireworks igniter



July 28, 1964 R. l.. MURR SAFETY FIREWORKS IGNITER Filed Oct. 23. 1962 new,

INVENTOR Fic/yard L. L1/'f 8%@ 'Af/Mey nited States This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fireworks apparatus, and has particular reference to a device for igniting fireworks pieces of many kinds and types.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a fireworks igniter which may be controlled and actuated remotely from the actual fireworks piece, in order that the operator may position himself at a safe distance before igniting the fireworks, and thus be protected from possible injury due to faulty fireworks, premature explosions, etc. In the present device, a cord or string is extended to any desired distance from the igniter proper, which is then actuated by pulling the cord.

Another object is the provision, in an igniter of the character described, of novel means for preventing accidental ignition due to pulling the cord inadvertently. Specifically, the present invention contemplates the use of two cords, which must be pulled alternately in a certain sequence to actuate the igniter, which certain sequence is extremely unlikely to occur by accident.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, efficiency, safety and dependability of operation, adaptability for use with any type of fireworks including a fuse for ignition, and adaptability for use in providing simultaneous ignition at any number of points, as in elaborate fireworks displays.

With these yobjects in view, as well as other objects which will appear in the course of the specification, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. l is a side elevational view of a fireworks igniter embodying the present invention, with parts broken away, and showing the operating switch open,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the igniter as shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line III--III of FIG. 1, with parts left in elevation,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary `sectional view taken on line IV-IV of FIG. l with parts left in elevation,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line V-V of FIG. 2, with parts left in elevation, and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the switch in its closed position.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 2 applies generally to an elonagted bar `formed of metal or other electrical conducting material. Said bar extends horizontally as shown in the drawing, but can be used in any position as will hereinafter be described. Intermediate its ends, said bar is provided with an arcuate offset 4, provided with a lining 6 of insulating material. A clamp bar 8 is attached to bar 2 by a pair of bolts 10, and has an arcuate offset 12 provided with an insulating lining 14, said offset being aligned with and opposed to offset 4 of bar 2. By tightening bolts 10, bar 2 may be fixedly attached to any suitable support member disposed between the ofisets. As shown, the support member constitutes a stake 16 having its sharpened lower end driven into the ground. However, it will be understood that the bar may be attached to other supports conveniently disposed relative to the fireworks to be ignited, for example to the framework customarily used to support fireworks displays.

Bar 2 is of flattened cross-sectional contour, and the major axis thereof is disposed vertically throughout the major portion of the bar. However, one end portion 18 is twisted to lie in a horizontal plane. Adjacent the outer end of this portion is carried an electric igniter 20. As

' atent best shown in FIG. 5, said igniter comprises a vertical tubular body 22 threaded upwardly through bar 2, and having a helical heater coil 24 disposed in the upper portion thereof, one end of said coil being attached to body 22 as at 26, and thereby to bar 22, and the other end of the coil being connected at 28 to a terminal post 30 insulated from body 22 by sleeve 32, said post extending below body 22.

The fuse 34 of the fireworks piece to be ignited, exemplified in the drawing as a firecracker 36, is inserted downwardly into coil 24 as shown, whereby to be ignited when the coil is sufficiently heated by an electric current passing therethrough. The extreme end portion of bar 2 is rebent on itself to form a blast plate 38 spaced apart from the open end of coil 24, and has a hole 40 formed therein to admit fuse 34. The purpose of the blast plate is to minimize possible damage to coil 24 resulting from explosion of the fireworks piece 36. The blast plate is provided along its lateral edges with ears 42 which are turned down to further enclose the open upper end of the igniter.

The end portion of bar 2 opposite from igniter 20 is bent at right angles to form an ear 44 which serves as the fixed contact of an electrical switch to be described. Adjacent said contact ear, bar 2 is provided with a depending tab 46 to the lower end of which is pivoted a switch operating member 48 having the form of an elongated, normally horizontal bar pivoted intermediate its ends to tab 46 by a bolt 50 which is electrically insulated from bar 2 by suitable bushings 52, as best shown in FIG. 4. One end portion 54 of member 48 extends beneath contact 44, and constitutes the movable contact of the electrical switch. Said -switch is disposed in the circuit of an electric battery contained in a battery case 56 secured to bar 2 by bolts 58, and having terminal posts 69 and 62. A wire 64 interconnects terminal post 6l) to switch operating member 48, and is sufficiently slack and flexible to permit pivotal movement olf the latter. A wire 66 interconnects terminal post 62 and terminal post 30 of igniter 20. Thus when operating member 48 is pivoted in a clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 6, end portion 54 thereof engages Contact ear 44 of bar 2 at the point 68, and a circuit is completed from battery post 60 through wire 64, operating member 48, contact ear 44, bar 2, igniter body 22, igniter coil 24, terminal post 30 and wire 66 to battery post 62. Coil 24, thus energized, is heated and ignites fireworks fuse 34.

Switch operating member 48 is biased in a counterclockwise direction, or away from the closed position shown in FIG. 6, by a tension spring 68 secured at one end to said operating member and secured at its opposite end to a post 70 secured in bar 2 and insulated therefrom by suitable bushings 72 as best shown in FIG. 3. Said operating member is pivoted to the closed position by a cord or string 74 secured at one end to said operating member, and extending upwardly therefrom to run freely through an eye member 76 supported fixedly above bar 2 by a standard 78. Said eye may constitute a small hoop of smooth wire. Cord 74 may be extended to any desired safe distance from the igniter, whereupon pulling of the cord will close the switch and actuate the igniter as previously described. Eye 76 provides that the switch operating member 48 will be pulled in the proper direction to close the switch regardless of the direction in which cord 74 may be extended from the igniter. Spring 68 prevents the operating member from being pivoted by gravity, and thus permits bar 2 to be set in any position, as may be necessary or desirable. Cord 74 is preferably of a nonconducting material, to avoid short-circuiting member 48 to bar 2. Alternatively, a cord of wire or other conducting material could be used, but then eye 76 would necessarily be insulated from bar 2.

The movement of switch operating member 48 is further regulated by a latch 80 consisting of a substantially L- shaped lever pivoted at its angle to bar 2 by a bolt 82 which is parallel to bolt 50 and which is insulated from bar 2 by suitable bushings 84. Said lever has a horizontal leg 86 normally disposed alongside bar 2 as shown in FIG. l, and a vertical leg 88 depending to overlap slidably the outer face of switch operating member 48, at the end of the latter opposite from contact end 54 thereof. A pin 90 is fixed in member 48, extending outwardly therefrom parallel to the pivotal axis thereof. Said pin is retained in a generally Z-shaped slot 92 formed in leg 88 of the latch lever. has a central section 94 which is concentric with bolt 82, an upper section 96 extending upwardly from the end of central section 94 farthest from bolt 50, and a lower section 98 extending downwardly from the end of central section 94 closest to bolt 50. The upper and lower sections 96 and 98 are also arcuate, and are each concentric with bolt 50 when pin 90 is disposed therein.

Latch 80 is biased resiliently in a clockwise direction by a tension spring 100 secured at one end to leg 88 thereof and secured at its opposite end to post 70. The latch may be pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction by a latch cord 102 similar to switch cord 74, cord 102 being secured at one end to the free end of leg 86 of the latch extending upwardly therefrom to run freely through an eye member 104 supported fixedly above bar 2 by standard 106, and being extended from the igniter alongside cord 74.

When cords 74 and 102 are both relaxed, switch operating member 48 and latch 80 are moved to the positions shown in FIG. 1 by springs 68 and 100. This may be As best shown in FIG. 6, slot 92 v considered the cocked position of the mechanism, with f the pin 90 in the upper end of slot section 96, the switch operating member being in an off position and the latch being in an operative position in which it prevents movement of the switch member to its closed position. That is, while the switch operating member may be pivoted at this time by pulling cord 74, to the extent that pin 90 is moved to the lower end of slot section 96, this movement is not sufficient to close the switch. Likewise, in the cocked position of FIG. 1, pin 90 locks the latch itself against pivotal movement.

Thus, to actuate the igniter, the operator first pulls on cord 74 to pivot operating member 48, against spring 68, to move pin 90 to the lower end of slot section 96, and into alignment with central slot section 94. Then, without relaxing cord 74, the operator pulls cord 102 to cause said central slot section to traverse pin 90, and to move lower slot section 98 into alignment with the pin. This is the inoperative position of the latch. Then, without relaxing cord 102, the operator pulls again on cord 74, causing operating member 48 to pivot further, pin 90 moving downwardly into slot section 98, until contact end 5-4 of operating member 48 engages contact ear 44 of bar 2 at 68, as shown in FIG. 6, thereby energizing igniter coil 24 as previously described. The necessity that the -two cords 74 and 102 be pulled in Vthis particular sequence provides a valuable safety protection in that it renders extremely unlikely any accidental or premature ignition. The cords are preferably of different colors, to avoid confusion therebetween. The parts return automatically to the cocked position of FIG. l whenever the cords are released, so that no resetting is required between usages.

Thus, it will be apparent that a fireworks igniter having several advantages has been produced. In addition to its safety features, already discussed, the unit is self-contained and very compact, having only the cords 74 and 102 extending therefrom. Therefore its use does not re- 'quire'the Stringing of electrical wires. All operating parts,

except the igniter coil itself, are sufficiently removed from fiexible as to installation, in that it may be installed in any position, as may be dictated by the position or environment of the fireworks, and may be attached to nearly any support, such as the ground stake 16 shown, or to the framework members of a fireworks display structure. If a plurality of units are used to ignite a display at several different points, simultaneous actuation may be obtained by extending cords 74 and 102 of all the units to a common point, so that all may be pulled simultaneously by a single operator.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be readily apparent that many minor changes of structure and operation could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is.

l. A safety fireworks igniter comprising:

(a) an elongated bar,

(b) means for attaching said bar to a rigid support,

(c) an electric igniter mounted at one end of said bar and comprising an open ended coil of heater wire adapted to receive the fuse of a fireworks piece longitudinally therein,

(d) a blast plate carried fixedly by said bar in spaced relation from the open end of said coil and having a hole for said fuse formed therein in axial alignment with said coil,

(e) an operative electrical circuit including said igniter coil, a source of electric power, and a manually open switch, all carried by said bar,

(f) a switch operating member carried movably by said bar and operable when moved in one direction to close said switch, and

(g) an elongated switch cord connected at one end to said switch operating member and adapted to extend a point remote from said bar, whereby said switch may be closed by pulling on said cord.

2. A safety fireworks igniter comprising:

(a) an elongated bar,

(b) means for attaching said bar to a rigid support,

(c) an electric igniter carried at one end of said bar, said igniter being adapted to receive the fuse of a fireworks piece in operative relationship thereto,

(d) an operative electrical circuit including said igniter, a source of electric power, and a normally open switch, all carried by said bar, said bar being formed of electrical conducting material and forming a leg of said electrical circuit,

(e) means insulating said bar from any support member to which it is attached by said attaching means,

(f) a switch operating member carried movably by said bar and operable when moved in one direction to close said switch, and

(g) an elongated switch cord connected at one end to said switch operating member and adapted to extend to a point remote from said bar, whereby said switch may be closed by pulling on said cord.

3. A safety fireworks igniter comprising:

(a) an elongated bar,

(b) means for attaching said bar to a rigid support,

(c) an electric igniter carried at one end of said bar, said igniter being adapted to receive the fuse of a fireworks piece in operative relationship thereto,

(d) an operative electrical circuit including said igniter, a source of electric power, and a normally open switch, all carried by said bar,

(e) a switch operating member carried movably by said bar for movement from an inoperative position wherein said switch is open to an operative position wherein said switch is closed,

(f) an elongated switch cord connected at one end to said switch operating member and adapted to extend to a point remote from said bar, and operable when pulled to move said switch operating member to its operative position,

(g) a latch member carried by said bar for movement between an operative position wherein it obstructs movement of said switch operating member toward its operative position, and an inoperative position wherein it does not obstruct movement of said switch operating member, and

(h) an elongated latch cord secured at one end to said latch member and adapted to extend to a point remote from said bar, whereby said latch member may be moved to its inoperative position by pulling on said latch cord.

4. A safety iireworks igniter as recited in claim 3 with the addition of (a) a first eye member carried fixedly by said bar and spaced apart from said switch operating member in the direction said member must move to close said switch, and

(b) a second eye member carried fixedly by said bar and spaced apart from said latch in the direction said latch must move to attain its inoperative position, said switch and latch cords extending respectively through said iirst and second eyes in freely running relationship thereto.

5. A safety fireworks igniter as recited in claim 3 with the addition of:

(a) a first eye member carried iixedly by said bar and spaced apart from said switch operating member in the direction said member must move to close said switch, and

(b) a second eye member carried tixedly by said bar and spaced apart from said latch in the direction said latch must move to attain its inoperative position, said switch and latch cords extending respectively through said first and second eyes in freely running relationship thereto, and

(c) resilient means biasing said switch operating member in a direction to open said switch, and biasing said latch toward its operative position.

6. A safety fireworks igniter as recited in claim 3 wherein said latch member, when in its operative position, allows movement of said switch operating member from its inoperative position to an intermediate position short of its operative position, and wherein said switch operating member, at all positions thereof between said inoperative and intermediate positions, obstructs movement of said latch member from its operative to its inoperative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,631,514 Brush et al. June 7, 1927 1,665,677 Roe Apr. 10, 1028 2,074,138 Whitesell Mar. 16, 1937 2,519,815 Beane Aug. 22, 1950 

1. A SAFETY FIREWORKS IGNITER COMPRISING: (A) AN ELONGATED BAR, (B) MEANS FOR ATTACHING SAID BAR TO A RIGID SUPPORT, (C) AN ELECTRIC IGNITER MOUNTED AT ONE END OF SAID BAR AND COMPRISING AN OPEN ENDED COIL OF HEATER WIRE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE FUSE OF A FIREWORKS PIECE LONGITUDINALLY THEREIN, (D) A BLAST PLATE CARRIED FIXEDLY BY SAID BAR IN SPACED RELATION FROM THE OPEN END OF SAID COIL AND HAVING A HOLE FOR SAID FUSE FORMED THEREIN IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID COIL, (E) AN OPERATIVE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT INCLUDING SAID IGNITER COIL, A SOURCE OF ELECTRIC POWER, AND A MANUALLY OPEN SWITCH, ALL CARRIED BY SAID BAR, (F) A SWITCH OPERATING MEMBER CARRIED MOVABLY BY SAID BAR AND OPERABLE WHEN MOVED IN ONE DIRECTION TO CLOSE SAID SWITCH, AND (G) AN ELONGATED SWITCH CORD CONNECTED AT ONE END TO SAID SWITCH OPERATING MEMBER AND ADAPTED TO EXTEND A POINT REMOTE FROM SAID BAR, WHEREBY SAID SWITCH MAY BE CLOSED BY PULLING ON SAID CORD. 